51st Assembly District
There are two candidates to represent the 51st Assembly District. Jeff Wright and incumbent Todd Novak are running.
Position sought: State Representative of the 51st Assembly District
Age: 51
City/town of residence: Dodgeville
Family: Two sons, 15 and 18
Education: I graduated from Iowa-Grant High School and went on to attend Southwest Technical College.
Occupation: State Representative of the 51st Assembly District and Mayor of Dodgeville.
Previous elected positions held: Mayor of Dodgeville since 2012; Elected to State Assembly in 2014
What is the top issue facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
Further improving our district's economy is a top issue facing our residents. In order to do that, education, transportation, and economic development all need to be addressed and considered.
Education and economic development are intertwined and can be interdependent upon each other. I will work to make sure our education system and economy are strong. Last year when the Governor tried to cut public education, I stood up and voted "no" on the state budget. Ensuring our children receive a high quality education is a top priority for me and I have pledged to vote "no" again on the state budget if the governor proposes to cut school funding. I will also look for ways to strengthen our workforce by investing in opportunities to help our citizens acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to get and keep good paying, family supporting jobs.
The ability to easily get from place to place impacts our economy, tourism, and the lives of our citizens as they travel to work, school, and about their daily needs. Working roads and infrastructure are absolutely vital in accomplishing these goals. I will fight to properly fund and fix the roads in our state by keeping all options on the table.
What are other key issues facing the district and how would you work to resolve them?
The health and safety of the citizens of our district will always be another top priority for me and both are an important necessity for leading a quality life. Every Wisconsinite deserves to feel safe where they live, and the healthier our citizens are, the happier they and their families will be. I will look for ways to focus on both these priorities.
I'm proud of the work I've done to improve both the safety and health for residents of the 51st Assembly District. Two of my proudest accomplishments these past two years are initiatives I brought forward to help those struggling with Alzheimer's and a grant for drug law enforcement that better enables law enforcement to coordinate efforts with surrounding counties. I look forward to continuing on with related efforts. Already I have been in discussions with the Attorney General about providing further funding for these important drug law enforcement initiatives. I also will continue my focus on helping those with Alzheimer's or other dementias and their families. As the sixth leading cause of death in our state, our efforts in this fight must continue.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
As a native to southwest Wisconsin, I have a strong connection to our area. I was born and raised on my family's farm in Cobb - a farm that has been in my family for more than 150 years - and I now live just ten miles from where I was born. I know that the people who live here are special. We tend to think a little bit differently than people in the southeast or up north. I'm so fortunate to represent the 51st Assembly District in the legislature, and I am honored that my friends and neighbors have entrusted me to represent them in Madison. I'm extremely proud of my legislative record over these past two years. I've been able to accomplish positive things for our district and make a true difference, and I believe I have proven to be a bipartisan, independent voice in Madison.
Age: 51
City/town of residence: Dodgeville
Family: Two sons, 15 and 18
Education: I graduated from Iowa-Grant High School and went on to attend Southwest Technical College.
Occupation: State Representative of the 51st Assembly District and Mayor of Dodgeville.
Previous elected positions held: Mayor of Dodgeville since 2012; Elected to State Assembly in 2014
What is the top issue facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
Further improving our district's economy is a top issue facing our residents. In order to do that, education, transportation, and economic development all need to be addressed and considered.
Education and economic development are intertwined and can be interdependent upon each other. I will work to make sure our education system and economy are strong. Last year when the Governor tried to cut public education, I stood up and voted "no" on the state budget. Ensuring our children receive a high quality education is a top priority for me and I have pledged to vote "no" again on the state budget if the governor proposes to cut school funding. I will also look for ways to strengthen our workforce by investing in opportunities to help our citizens acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to get and keep good paying, family supporting jobs.
The ability to easily get from place to place impacts our economy, tourism, and the lives of our citizens as they travel to work, school, and about their daily needs. Working roads and infrastructure are absolutely vital in accomplishing these goals. I will fight to properly fund and fix the roads in our state by keeping all options on the table.
What are other key issues facing the district and how would you work to resolve them?
The health and safety of the citizens of our district will always be another top priority for me and both are an important necessity for leading a quality life. Every Wisconsinite deserves to feel safe where they live, and the healthier our citizens are, the happier they and their families will be. I will look for ways to focus on both these priorities.
I'm proud of the work I've done to improve both the safety and health for residents of the 51st Assembly District. Two of my proudest accomplishments these past two years are initiatives I brought forward to help those struggling with Alzheimer's and a grant for drug law enforcement that better enables law enforcement to coordinate efforts with surrounding counties. I look forward to continuing on with related efforts. Already I have been in discussions with the Attorney General about providing further funding for these important drug law enforcement initiatives. I also will continue my focus on helping those with Alzheimer's or other dementias and their families. As the sixth leading cause of death in our state, our efforts in this fight must continue.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
As a native to southwest Wisconsin, I have a strong connection to our area. I was born and raised on my family's farm in Cobb - a farm that has been in my family for more than 150 years - and I now live just ten miles from where I was born. I know that the people who live here are special. We tend to think a little bit differently than people in the southeast or up north. I'm so fortunate to represent the 51st Assembly District in the legislature, and I am honored that my friends and neighbors have entrusted me to represent them in Madison. I'm extremely proud of my legislative record over these past two years. I've been able to accomplish positive things for our district and make a true difference, and I believe I have proven to be a bipartisan, independent voice in Madison.